Cape Town - It seems like Mandla Mandela might lose more than his heart to love... he could also love his Xhosa crown.
While his new Muslim wife may be the queen of his heart, Mandla may soon be the king of none – or rather chief of none – after traditional leaders slammed his fourth marriage.
Read: Mandla Mandela’s Muslim wedding - PICS
The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Controlesa) say they were shocked to learn that Nelson Mandela’s grandson had converted to Islam when he married 22-year-old Rabia Clarke from Pinelands.
Mandla is the traditional chief of Mvezo in the Eastern Cape.
Read: Mandla’s conversion to Islam slammed
Contralesa Provincial Chairperson Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana said: “As traditional leaders, we expect the woman to convert to the Thembus, because she is married to the Chief of the abaThembu, not the other way round.
“That is our custom.”
Mandla shocked the nation when he married his bride according to Islam tradition at a Kensington mosque last week.
Chief Nonkonyana said they were troubled that no Xhosa traditional leaders were present at the ceremony.
He said they have been trying to get hold of Mandla, who is believed to be on his honeymoon at an unknown location.
Read: Will 4th time be a charm for Mandla?
“We have received national and international inquiries about this matter,” Nonkonyana said.
“Mandla is being called up by the people of Mvezo, not by Contralesa. People want to get hold of him so that they can get clarity on this matter.”
Asked if Mandla would be dethroned, Nonkonyana said: “He belongs to the abaThembu Royal Family, we don’t have powers to remove him, it is the people of Mvezo who have those powers.”
In a statement after his wedding, Mandla said: “I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Rabia’s parents, her extended family and the Muslim community, for welcoming me into their hearts.
“Although Rabia and I were raised in different cultural and religious traditions, our coming together reflects what we have in common – we are South Africans.
Very little is known about the blushing bride, who is believed to be from Pinelands, and not Primrose Park as previously reported.
Rabia’s father is apparently a well-known businessman.
It is believed the family sold the rights to publish pictures of the wedding to a Cape Town-based magazine, and that the happy couple is to live in Bishopscourt.
A source said: “One cousin had to delete posts they posted via Facebook.”
Rabia does not have a presence on social media.
The couple were married by Sheikh Ebrahim Gabriels, followed by a speech made by Sheikh Riyadh Walls.
Speaking to the Daily Voice, Sheikh Walls confirmed Mandla embraced Islam in November, in Lenasia.
Walls said: “His father-in-law brought him to me last week Wednesday to exchange advice before marriage.”
The holy man denied the marriage being a clash of cultures.
“How can it be a cultural clash? They now have common ground, which is faith,” he says.
“With the different cultures, they are celebrating their diversity which brings them together instead.
“From a point of faith, the Qur’an said God created a man and woman from one prayer which became two different nations.
“It doesn’t matter if you are black or Indian, what is important is your level of faith.”
Daily Voice